Abstract:
Advancements in DNA aptamer nanotechnology are transforming precision cancer diagnostics and therapy. This presentation highlights the development and application of cancer-specific DNA aptamers for tumor localization, surgical margin delineation, circulating tumor cell detection, and adjuvant treatment. I will introduce novel approaches such as Aptamer-assisted Fluorescence-Guided Surgery (AptaFGS) and Aptamer-guided MagnetoDynamic cell disruption (AptaMD). In AptaFGS, a tumor-specific aptamer spray is employed intraoperatively for glioblastoma neurosurgery, eliminating the need for systemic drug administration and providing real-time visualization of tumor boundaries to assist surgeons in distinguishing malignant from healthy tissues. In AptaMD, aptamer-modified gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles are activated by an alternating low-frequency magnetic field to selectively disrupt tumor cells through mechanical oscillation, sparing adjacent healthy tissues without thermal damage. Together, these technologies underscore the potential of synthetic affinity ligands in targeted cancer treatment, offering new avenues for intraoperative imaging and postoperative tumor eradication. This presentation is intended for an interdisciplinary audience spanning chemical biology, nucleic acid chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, and biomedicine.